Introduction

Weight management is significant as being overweight and obese are linked to higher rates of morbidity and death. Even small weight losses can have significant health benefits.¹

The aetiology of obesity is multifactorial, encompassing factors such as excessive food intake, a sedentary lifestyle, and specific genetic susceptibilities that impact the endocrine system. Additionally, obesity is connected to multiple conditions, such as cardiovascular ailments and type II diabetes, as well as psychological disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.²

The edible Hylocereus plant, also known as dragon fruit (pitaya or pitahaya), is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates. A tasty tropical fruit is the dragon fruit. It has the potential to improve human health. The polysaccharides in this fruit, one of its main bioactive ingredients, may be responsible for some of its health advantages.³

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The pitaya, also referred to as dragon fruit, is a member of the Cactaceae family's genus Hylocereus. The species is indigenous to El Salvador, southern Mexico, and the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and Guatemala. The genus Hylocereus contains three species: Hylocereus undatus (Hu), Hylocereus polyrhizus (Hp), and Hylocereus guatemalensis (Hg). Worldwide, these species and their hybrids are farmed for commercial purposes. The genus Hylocereus spp. exhibits clear morphological variations in the stem, flower, and fruit characters. Depending on the variety, the fruit can be white, crimson, dark red, or pale yellow. The flesh has tiny black seeds scattered throughout it. Because of its deep red flesh, HP, the common red-fleshed species, is regarded as a superfruit with a high antioxidant capacity. The fruit is very ornamental, with green scales adorning its bright red skin. Hu is a cactus that resembles a vine and is often grown for its fruit and as a nocturnal ornamental. The fruit is very ornamental, with green scales adorning its bright red skin. The meat is juicy, white, and flavorful. Pitaya fruits can be eaten raw or processed to make wine, juice, jams, jellies, marmalades, and other drinks.⁴

Nutritional benefits of dragon fruit

According to reports, dragon fruit contains a variety of health-promoting phytochemicals, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C, which give the fruit potent antioxidant potential. Betacyanins found in the red pulped dragon fruit shield mice against diet-induced obesity and the metabolic diseases that go along with it. Consuming dragon fruit has been shown to significantly lower LDL 

cholesterol, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetics while raising HDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, it dramatically lowers blood glucose levels in type II diabetic subjects and improves insulin resistance in rats.⁵

Pitaya fruit has a lot of nutritional compounds, which has made the food industry interested in using them as low-cost, clean-label, plant-based ingredients that are also healthy for the environment. The main carbohydrates found in red pitayas are glucose, fructose, and oligosaccharides. Famous antioxidant polysaccharides and polyphenols can also be utilized as a natural food colouring (betanin) and prebiotic enrichment. The extraction of essential fatty acids from pitaya seeds, particularly linoleic acid, has been shown to have laxative effects on gastroenteritis.⁶

Effects of dragon fruit on cholesterol (pre-clinical)

Shahi et al. examined how applying spray pitaya powder (SPP) affected subjects with normal cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C) and total cholesterol decreased at all doses; nevertheless, the decrease in cholesterol levels increased with the dose. The higher dosage resulted in significant differences (increase and decrease, respectively) in the blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides. Red pitaya can help people with type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and normocholesterolemia improve their lipid profiles by raising HDL-C levels and lowering triglycerides, LDL-C, and total cholesterol. Researchers Marietta et al. found that male Wistar rats with diabetes and dyslipidemia that consumed red pitaya skin extract had no discernible change in their lipid profiles. Setiawan and others examined the impact of H. powdered polyrhizus peel on male Balb-C mice. Their findings indicated lower levels of LDL-C, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Additionally, they noticed a rise in HDL-C levels. The fruit's peel, according to the authors, may help mice with hyperlipidemia's blood lipid levels.⁷

The study by Ruqiah Ganda Putri Panjaitan and Syafira Amelia has concluded that a dose of 5.4 mg/20 g and 10.8 mg/20 g of body weight of red dragon fruit peel extract lowers blood LDL cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis risk.⁸

Summary

Weight management is important as obesity leads to a higher risk of developing various serious health problems. Managing weight naturally helps in avoiding side effects that occur due to taking weight-reducing pills. It has been proven preclinically that taking dragon fruit reduces cholesterol levels. Further studies in humans are required to prove that dragon fruit helps manage weight.

Dragon fruit has more nutritional value and it provides more health benefits.